I'd recommend buying some Kevlar and trying your idea out, with the wood
versions next to it. Kevlar is tough enough to lay on a smooth flat
surface. You may find that it's more hassle than it's worth unless you
vacuum bag it. Try it first. Prove me wrong. Test the results
mechanically ...clamp the samples to a table (your composite and the wood)
and hang weights off the end to find out how much each deflects versus the
other and where the breaking point occurs and how it breaks. Most of all,
have fun.

Brian

--
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/tongass -- My 22' Tolman Skiff project
http://www.advantagecomposites.com/catalog -- Discounted System Three
Resins products


..
"Snowman" wrote in message
om...
I'm looking at building a Geodesic Airolite Boat, (see www.gaboats.com
by Platt Monfort) but I'm considering an interesting idea and I'm
wondering what you all might think. Instead of using wood strips to
form the geodesic structure I am thinking about using foam strips
wrapped in Kevlar tape and epoxy.

I have been reading about the construction of these boats and found
that some people have trouble with bending the ribs to shape without
breaking, (and this is with better quality wood that I am able to
source). I'm thinking I can bend foam cores easily to shape and then
once assembled in a frame start wrapping it all in Kevlar tape,
forming a makeshift Kevlar tube frame.

I'm still considering using wood for the stringers and gunwales as I
can form those with little or no problem. Having the stringers and
gunwales constructed out of wood would also make forming the foam ribs
much easier as it would give me something solid to work the foam
inside.

-Does anyone foresee a problem with pursuing this type of
construction?
-How will Kevlar wrapped foam compare to the equivalent
cross-sectional wood piece in strength?

Thanks
Jordan Richardson

Kevlar floats on top of resin. So it has to be vacuum bagged. One issue
I could see is if you were trying wrap the strip completely in kevlar.
Not sure how well it would bend around a 90 degree edge. And that's 90
degrees F or C. (a little early morning humor... ;p )


--
Matt Langenfeld
JEM Watercraft
http://jem.e-boat.net/


Brian D wrote:
I'd recommend buying some Kevlar and trying your idea out, with the wood
versions next to it. Kevlar is tough enough to lay on a smooth flat
surface. You may find that it's more hassle than it's worth unless you
vacuum bag it. Try it first. Prove me wrong. Test the results
mechanically ...clamp the samples to a table (your composite and the wood)
and hang weights off the end to find out how much each deflects versus the
other and where the breaking point occurs and how it breaks. Most of all,
have fun.

Brian